Merry Christmas!

This photo of Ren was taken in December 2008, the year of his birth.  Peace.  Love.  Understanding.

I Love Our Vets

As I was working on my blog just now, September 14th, I got a phone call from our equine veterinarian.  And I have to just say that I love our veterinarians.  Zelia, Jackass and the cats have a great friend and caretaker and skilled physician in Dr. Amanda.  And my herd could not possibly do better than Dr. Ryan.  Happy blessings to them and their families and creatures on this wonderful holiday.  And by the way, this photo was taken almost exactly a year ago...my baby is much bigger, stouter, stronger and more mature -- but he's still a cute little guy like this winter fella in my warm heart!

Happy Holidays from Jackass and Arcangelo!

Happy holidays!  Lots of love to you from me and my critters!

Hailee Starts Over!

I am writing this entry on September 14th and so many things have been happening lately.  Violet and I are having wonderful fun working on our transitions, halts, lightness and jumping.  Renny is becoming a wonderful working pony who I have had 7 rides on as of this morning for a total of 36 rides for him!  And Tracy, Hailee's original mom, wants to work with her and ride her and get a feel for her again which will be super exciting.  So, I am going to start working with Hailee all over again.  I feel bad for her that I got her when she only had 30 rides under her belt after being terrified at that one farm.  She deserved a better trainer and beginning -- but at least she had me.  And now I have a few more arrows in my quiver.  So, I've decided to help bring Hailee along with longing, natural horsemanship ground manners and desensitization work, and some saddling and mounting, so she will be ready for Tracy later this Fall.  Oh, and here's something wonderful -- when I worked her this weekend, I saw sparkling glints of her colt in her -- the same look, expression, and softness of eye.  I was thrilled!

A Cozy Night

Last night, September 13th, Violet and I had a great lesson with Gaye, Baker, Cheri and Shorty, Parker and Pan.  Stacey helped us really work on the downward transitions to a walk and to a halt, and really helped us refine out to halt from a canter.  And then Stacey helped us with our form over crossrails and verticals.  I had a great wonderful time.  So, by the time I got home, I was exhausted and just crashed.  And because it is becoming cooler at night when I woke up this morning, I was delighted to find all 5 of my house critters in bed with me, all cozying up to get some of my warmth.  I felt like it was a rocking wonderful way to start the day before I went out to ride my red ones! 

So Happy Together!

So, I'm writing this entry on Tuesday, September 14th and we are having a gorgeaus simply spectacular Fall day.  I snuck out to the barn early this morning and worked Renny long-lining and then riding.  We had trouble long-lining because I was stiff and a little hard on him, but we finally cracked the code.  And then Coy showed up to work with Melissa and Blaze, and to ride the trial horse for St. George, and he got to watch us ride.  He thinks we are doing great -- that we are really becoming a team and that I seem more relaxed on him than I do my Violet.  He is going to work with me to help me tweak and refine my tasks and to know the details of what he's doing with the reins and weight and legs, so that I can help develop Renny.  And I was very happy because he said that he felt that I was just a lesson or two away from not needing him at all in order to develop Renny -- that I was doing a great job on my own.  Which I don't think is necessarily true, but I have to say, it was wonderful to be under a beautiful cloudless blue sunny sky on my pony with my friend watching who trained my pony with such a blessed gift and have him praise me for my work too.  I mean, that moment didn't even need a cherry on top it was so perfect!

And then I got my Violet and she was all mellow and cute and happy and Robin called us the "Sanchez girls," and we had a great ride in the outdoor arena -- all light and responsive and quiet.  Violet was light in my hands and listening to my weight and legs and hands and giving and bringing herself up. And then we jumped these 7 verticals and 1 cross rail several times and then put the whole 8 fence course together.  We felt like superstars in the sun.  This morning was a true blessing! 

Plus it was fun to see so many friends -- Stacey, Sandy, Robin, Beth, Baker, Melissa, Coy...I love St. George!

Winter Buddies

Here's a February 27, 2010 photo of my little guy, Renny, standing outside with his pal, RJ.  You can tell that they are close happy cheerful little buddies!!

Renny and His Tall Dark and Handsome Friend

Here's a June 1st photo of my beloved little buddy and his gorgeaus dark friend!

 

My Macho Girl

Namaste.

Big Boy and His Big Pals

Here's a spring photo of my handsome fella with all of his big boy pasturemates.  He really knows how to hold his own and feels like the main man out there.  He knows how to boss around his pals.  He knows how to get along.  He knows how to play.  He's beloved by certain close horsie friends.  He doesn't mind giving up his weanling herd back at Showgate!

My Cats and Aunt Ruth

Here is a cozy winter night shot of Jackass and Arcangelo resting on the afghan I knitted and my Aunt Ruth's chair, with the National Geographic's and birdwatching books, and horse breeding sire book, and the present from St. George, and the photos of my beloved pets and family.  This spot is a cozy sacred little spot.  And right outside the window are my chickens and squirrel and bird feeders and winter resting garden!  Namaste!

My Catnip Lovers

Here are my beloved boys, resting so sweetly together.  Yesterday, I put some fresh catnip in my dehydrator and the boys love to just sit cuddled against the hot little dehydrator and listen to its hum and smell the fragrant drying catnipies.  They love it.  Love it.  LOVE it!

Grama Writes a Grant

Here're April photos of my scruffy darling baby boy, months before he's ready to carry Grandma happily around arenas and over pastures.  What a good little beloved guy.  I am writing this entry on Monday, September 13th, and I just last night decided to write a grant application on horses and humans that has a December deadline.  I feel like I am going to have fun with that task!

A Relaxed Canter

I'm writing this entry on Sunday, September 12th, a few hours after a happy quiet ride in the indoor arena with Renny which included the second time I trotted him.  And this time, I had much better control of turning and steering him.  So, here's a photo of my goal -- I hope to canter this sensible sweet pony over the next week or so.  Wish me luck!